Recent Catholic News

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 2, 2001 (LSN.ca) – As United Nations diplomats from around the world gathered for the last day of the second preparatory session for the upcoming UN World Summit on Children, they heard from the official UN Youth Caucus. Undoubtedly many were surprised to hear a strong message supportive of life from the youth spokesperson addressing the session. Teenager Emilia Klepacka addressed the assembly, saying, “The dignity of the child, and the dignity of the young person demands that we use an integral approach. This necessitates recognizing the physical, emotional and spiritual dimension of the person. This inherent […]

MANILA, Feb. 2, 2001 (LSN.ca) – New Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo revealed yesterday that her government would avoid the corruption of the former Estrada government and hold to traditional Philippine culture in its protection of life and family. “We will push for responsible parenthood and a population policy that is in keeping with our culture,” President Macapagal told foreign reporters. United Nations Population Fund operatives in Manila were outraged that the president refused to allow public funds to promote abortifacient contraception and condoms. “I do not think there should be a specific budget (in the Department of Health) for contraception,” […]

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 2, 2001 (LSN.ca) – African Christian Democratic Party MP, Cheryllyn Dudley, praised United States President George W. Bush’s move to defund abortion-promoting agencies like Planned Parenthood. Dudley made her comments yesterday during a pro-life march to Parliament in Cape Town marking the fourth anniversary of legalized abortion in South Africa. Over 100 pro-lifers marched behind a hearse and three men carrying small white coffins representing the over 142,812 unborn children killed by abortion since it was approved in 1996. Pro-lifers also carried large posters depicting the horrific carnage resulting from abortion and listened to church leaders and […]

AMSTERDAM, Feb. 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The pro-abortion extremism and intolerance of Dutch foreign aid minister Evelien Herfkens was revealed today in a letter made public by International Planned Parenthood Federation. In a letter to the European Union regarding United States President George W. Bush’s decision to stop funding agencies which promote abortion abroad, Herfkens said, “I was absolutely appalled to learn earlier this week that the new Bush administration is set on reviving the Reagan-policy of cutting down U.S. support to international organizations involved in activities concerning abortion.” Expressing her preference for Mr. Bush’s immediate predecessor, she wrote, “I […]

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 2, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Archbishop Renato Martino, representative of the Vatican at the United Nations, addressed the UN preparatory meeting for the upcoming Special Session on Children Wednesday. In his remarks, Archbishop Martino called for protections for life and family to be included in the final document to come out of the Special Session. The first of three points the archbishop wanted included in the document was “The promotion and protection of the right to life as well as the human dignity and rights of the child, before as well as after birth.” The statement comes from […]

Applause Marks Bush Administration Support for Family UNITED NATIONS, Feb 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – As the preparatory sessions for the UN Children’s Special Session scheduled for September got underway in New York, the Bush Administration signaled a major change in focus. Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute reported that today Ambassador Michael Southwick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, veered sharply from previous US policy on the question of parents and the family. C-Fam notes that Clinton Administration negotiators tended to fight mention of the family and were the leading forces against the rights of parents in UN […]

REGINA, Feb 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The abortifacient morning-after-pill, Plan B, is set to be dispensed without a doctor’s prescription in Saskatchewan this April. Ray Joubert, registrar of the Saskatchewan Pharmaceutical told the Globe and Mail yesterday that the drug will be available from pharmacists, but stocked behind the counter. Plan B acts to make the mother’s body inhospitable to the human embryo (embryo – fertilized ovum – the first stage of human life) by weakening the uterine wall, thus not allowing implantation, leading to the death of the already conceived human being. Mark Beaudet, vice-president of Montreal-based Paladin Labs, […]

OTTAWA, Feb 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Tim Caulfield, a prominent Canadian ethicist, has argued in favour of allowing human cloning, even reproductive human cloning. The National Post reported yesterday that Caulfield, research director of the University of Alberta’s Health Law Institute, said, “With a criminal law against cloning … we’re casting a possible chill over possible scientific inquiry that may be beneficial. When you have a criminal law, it sends a strong symbolic statement.” He argued that he was in favour of cloning since he believes “human beings are so much more than just their genes.” Canada is one of […]

VATICAN, Feb 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Speaking to Vatican court officials today, Pope John Paul II stressed the constant teaching of the Church that homosexual marriages are contrary to nature. Marriage is of its nature “ordered for the good of the spouses and generation and education of children,” said the pope. He argued that marriage is a “natural reality … evident to reason” and not a mere social construct. The pope suggested that “truth” about marriage is “not only being disregarded but openly contested.” He said that this trend is clearly evidenced in the attempt to make homosexual unions equal […]

WASHINGTON, Feb 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Yesterday, in a private meeting with Catholic leaders from across the nation, President George W. Bush had his discussions unknowingly broadcast to the media. The president spoke frankly with the many assembled Catholic bishops telling them they are important allies since “you’re not going to be eroded by political correctness or whatever.” President Bush expressed the need to re-frame the debate over abortion and school vouchers. “Those of us who agree on these issues must figure out better ways to position from a PR perspective,” he said. “Vouchers is the wrong word. … It […]